INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Nov 28, 2007 - James Li, the China-born coach of world 1,500m and 5,000m doubles champion Bernard Lagat, was named the USA Track and Field Coach of the Year, the US governing body announced Wednesday.
Li, who was born in Chengdu and naturalized as a US citizen in 1998, will be honored at the group’s annual meeting Saturday in Honolulu.
Lagat became the first man to complete a 1,500-5,000 world championship double this year at Osaka, claiming the first US 5,000m podium finish ever at worlds under Li’s teachings.
I was overwhelmed when I was told that I had won this award, which I really did not expect,'' Li said. Bernard and I have worked together for 12 years. We have a good foundation of faith and confidence in what we are doing,’’ Li said.
He has been one of the world's great athletes now for years. What he has accomplished isn't surprising.'' Li coaches at Arizona State University after prior US college stints at Washington State and Minnesota State-Mankato. He also coached at the Sichuan Sports Technique Institute in China, guiding a provincial team from 1983-1985. Li graduated in 1982 from the Beijing Institute of Physical Education, where he was a middle distance runner. He won the 1979 Chinese 800m college title. Lagat took the 1,500m crown at Osaka in 3:34.77 and claimed the first US title in the event at a world or Olympic meet since Mel Sheppard's 1908 Olympic victory. In the 5,000, Lagat edged Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge to win in 13:45.87, .13 ahead of the African. The success that coach Li and Bernard Lagat have had for more than a decade illustrates the importance of having the right coach guide an athlete throughout his career,’’ USA Track and Field chief executive Craig Masback said.
``Bernard’s accomplishments have raised the bar for American distance runners and he couldn’t have done it without coach Li.’’